Andy’s E-BOOK — Photography Travel Guides

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“Sunrise, sunset; Sunrise, sunset; Swiftly flow the days …”, voices the chorus of men from Fiddler On The Roof. I am not sure it has any relevance, but whenever this topic comes to mind, I cannot help but conjure this earworm.

Something I read recently got me thinking about this topic (and, since it has been more than a month since I last was motivated to blog, it seemed like suddenly – finally – there was a subject to write about, on which I have experience, an opinion, and perhaps some gems of wisdom). As I did some quick and dirty internet research, I was a bit nonplussed to find that it was not my own original thought. But I will go on anyway. 🙂

Photography topics and opinions can be a rather polarizing subject (see what I did there? ) 🙂 . Canon vs. Nikon. People vs. landscape. Digital vs. Film. Handheld vs. tripod. Long vs. short lens. And of course: sunset vs. sunrise. Like the other debates, I find it a bit humorous that anyone would bite on the “which is better” question. And while we may have a preference, the true answer is obvious enough: both. And aptly, the title intro: “Twilight” also means both.

Inside Passage, AK SunriseCopyright Andy Richards 2010

It is, of course, conventional that the “best” time to photograph is during the so-called “golden hours” which occur shortly after sunrise and last for perhaps and hour and begin again, perhaps an hour or 2 before sunset. I used quotes around best, purposely. I am not sure there is a single best time to shoot and in my world – more often than not – it is “when you can.” Indeed there are wonderful illustrative photos supporting the merits of shooting before and after the sunrise and sunset. But here, I am talking about shooting the sunrise and sunset themselves. Or at the very least, subjects directly bathed in it. Like so many of my images shot in rapidly developing conditions, some are of that “f8 and be there” variety, and others are planned and even re-shot. The sailboat on Narragansett Bay is the former. I was photographing a lighthouse when the image began to develop and I had to just react quickly to make this image. The Otter Cliff shot, on the other hand, was the product of planning – before I left Michigan, and on several mornings while in Acadia National Park. It was also shot, and re-shot, trying to achieve the optimal sunrise. Both seem to have worked for me. But there is always a component of planning for any photography. Here are some thoughts on that preparation – mental and practical.

Practical Considerations: There are multiple considerations for why you might want to shoot a sunrise, sunset, or both. On a practical level, there are considerations of subject and location. Some locations obviously are affected by their orientation. Whether your subject faces east or west may factor into the decision of which time of day is best. In order to be ready to catch a sunrise shot (or shots), it is really necessary to be on location before the sun actually rises. This may mean hiking in to a location in the darkness. It most certainly means scouting the location in daylight, and making some calculations about where the sun will be when you make the actual image. Software programs like the Photographers’ Ephemeris, can be an invaluable tool for this planning.

Soo Locks SunriseSt. Mary’s RiverCopyright Andy Richards 2005

Distractions are another important practical issue. It may well be that this phenomena is the single biggest reason why I have many more early morning images than sunsets. The main distraction is family and friends (and it may be more correct to point out that a photographer, if she is not careful, may be the distraction). This is particularly an issue during vacations and travel. My wife and I, and occasionally friends and family, enjoy travel. In recent years, we have traveled to a few parts of the world, and we certainly look forward to more of the same. But sunrise and sunset shooting presents a challenge in these circumstances. It is the rare non-photographer friend or family member who has the patience to accompany a serious photographer to shoot. Sunrise means early rising, which often makes for a long day. Sunsets invariably occur at the dinner/cocktail hours of the afternoon or evening. For many of us, family and friend social time is important (perhaps more so than photography). My wife is not an early riser, so I have found that I can sneak away for some early morning shooting without disrupting the day plan much of the time. Sunsets are harder. I have come to the conclusion that sometimes, I just need to go off by myself (or with a like-minded companion) on a “dedicated” photo excursion. I guess it is all about balance.

Clearwater SunsetClearwater, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2016

Aesthetic Considerations: Aesthetics will always influence this decision. For example, I mentioned orientation above. This factor is also influenced by your desired lighting (i.e., backlighting, side, or front lighting). Perhaps one of the most significant aesthetic considerations involves compositional elements. For many years, I have sought “pure” landscape locations (“pure” meaning primarily to me: no people in the frame). These days, it seems that all the good locations are populated by tourists and other “viewers.” The vast majority of them are not serious photographers and it can often be a near-frustrating challenge to make a desired composition without someone in your frame. With only a few exceptions, sunrises do not pose this problem. Only the unique “tourist” is out at that time of day. Indeed, I have found that, even in my travel shooting in populated areas, that early mornings are the most productive for people-free imagery. As I have grown older, perhaps wiser, and more tolerant (my wife might disagree with this last characterization 🙂 ), I have concluded that there is often some merit in including people in imagery.

Aix-en-Provence, FranceCopyright Andy Richards 2015

Photographic Considerations: As I researched this aspect of the “sunrise/sunset” dichotomy, I learned – not surprisingly – that atmospheric conditions influence the photographic result. Sunrises generally have the characteristic of being clearer, cooler air. This is partly due to climatic conditions (is is usually cooler at sunrise than at sunset), and partly due to ambient influences (natural and man-made). This often results in a lighter, photographically “cooler” and more contrasty image. The natural conditions are also more like to produce fog and mist – often low and dramatic. A significant exception to this may be the “marine layer” which is found along the northern west coast, where fog can be found almost any time of the day. But generalizations often trap us. The Horseshoe Lake image (one of my most successful sales images) was made during sunrise behind a cloud which produced a very diffuse, pastel light – in spite of the fact that the blue tint seems cooler (the blue tint is a characteristic of the film I used that morning – Fuji Velvia – in that kind of light condition). Likewise, cloudy conditions in the early morning produced a pastel-like light for the Alaska Inside Passage image. The sunrise image of the Bridge behind the Soo Locks perhaps exhibits more, the characteristics noted here. The morning was crystal clear, making conditions right for the sunstar image produce by the very small aperture, shooting directly toward the sun.

Sunset, Florida GulfHoneymoon Island SPCopyright Andy Richards 2015

Sunsets, in addition to being generally physically warmer, also occur after there has been a day-long accumulation of airborne pollutants and wind-blown particles. Predictably, this often produces a more diffuse, softer, darker image. This sometimes results in surprising colors and it is rare that there aren’t variations from day to day. In my new home base on the Florida Gulf Coast, I hope for partly cloudy conditions as the sunset draws near, as that promises often spectacular colored skies, which are both pastel and brilliant at the same time. It is also sometimes the case that building storm conditions can produce dramatic conditions, especially when backlit by the setting sun.

Sunset over Cruise ShipCarribean Copyright Andy Richards 2013

What was interesting to me from my research was the science of all of this. Not really the technical side, but what it produces. I think I probably got the most insight from a painter’s website. The advice there and elsewhere to painters was fascinating. For sunrises, painters were advised that the clear skies of dawn yield more brilliant reds and oranges, and their palate should include yellow, bright orange, pink and blue, and emphasize the contrasts using dark blue on the sky and yellow on the horizon. For sunsets, they are advised to use warm and dark saturated reds, oranges, magentas and purples.

Personal considerations: Some years back, I made a quick trip back to Vermont in late summer, to attend a funeral. On Sunday morning, I was invited to go to church with family members and friends. I politely declined. I wanted some contemplative time, and I had packed some gear. Instead, I left my motel room in the predawn light, in to photograph a waterfall I had been to many times in my youth, but never photographed. Arriving there just after sunrise, I climbed down a steep pathway and was rewarded with this beautiful waterfall and exclusive occupancy of the area. Except for the pounding water, there were no other sounds and no other hint of humanity. My family and friends were in church, but I am certain that I was with God!

Cool (32 degree) temperatures following a very wet period created wonderful steam and colorful morning cloud conditions on this pond near Barton, VermontCopyright Andy Richards 2010

I have, in years since, often experienced this feeling of awe, being alone, or nearly alone as the world comes awake. It is a soul -cleansing experience for me. I know for others, getting up that early and mustering out is not a pleasant or desired experience. Ironically, that is good for me. As I get older, I understand the reluctance to rise that early 🙂 .

This shot involved a pre-sunrise, 20 minute hike down a very steep mountain trail on a Sunday morning.I’d rather be here than in church any day! Copyright Andy Richards 2008

I do appreciate though, after a long, good day, being there to watch the suns last rays of the day.

Most years, it seems like I get to this. 2017 was again, an eventful year, photographically and with related items. This wasn’t a year when I planned a dedicated photo trip. But I did manage to get to some new places, and back to some old ones. For the most part, I carried my Sony RX100 small camera, and it gave me good service.

Crystal Beach Pier Crystal Beach, FL Copyright Andy Richards 2017

I ended 2016, and rang in the New Year with a series of images from a small public pier, just up the road from our Florida home.

Southernmost Beach ResortKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

In January, we visited a “bucket list” location; Key West. It has held pull for me at least since I became a “Parrot Head,” and certainly after I read a couple of Jimmy Buffet’s novels. We celebrated my January birthday at Louie’s Backyard, a rather elegant restaurant with a wonderful outdoor deck seating area, and a great menu. The sunset was – as is common in Florida – pretty spectacular. Key West is a destination for eating, drinking, and people watching. I would not put it high up on the photographic destination list. 🙂

Sunset from Louie’s BackyardKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Speaking of sunsets, these images got me thinking how much I have always loved both ends of the day, but generally preferred sunrise to sunset. It spurred another post featuring some of my sunrise imagery.

As I went through my image library, it occurred to me that some of my images had some things in common. For example: Shape.

Whitefish FallsTrenary, MICopyright Andy Richards 2007

Rocks, Lake Superior ShorelineCopyright Andy Richards 2004

And, Color.

Shop; Istanbul, TurkeyCopyright Andy Richards 2014

Shop; St. MaartenCopyright Andy Richards 2012

And shape and color. 🙂

Just in time for Fall Foliage, my good friend, Carol Smith and I released our 2nd Edition of “Photographing Vermont’s Fall Foliage,” which can be purchased via the link on this blog. This is the cover image.

Craftsbury Common, Vermont Copyright Andy Richards 2015

Finally, we embarked on our much anticipated, 3rd Mediterranean cruise. The single most anticipated image for me was the opening image here of the whitewashed, blue-domed churches that dot the landscape of Santorini. But there was so much more to see.

Ravello, Amalfi CoastCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Positano; Amalfi CoastCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Amalfi; Amalfi CoastCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Santorini, GreeceCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Mykonos GreeceCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Night CanalVenice, ItalyCopyright Andy Richards 2017

As we ring in the New Year, I want to thank all the readers here, especially those who have the patience and perseverance to visit regularly. I want to thank all those persons who mentor and support me in my photographic endeavors. I want to thank my great friends (you know who you are so I won’t “out” you publicly), who traveled with us this year – we had a great time with great company. As I said last week, I am very grateful for my blessings in life. I wish to all, a Happy New Year, and a prosperous and successful (as you define “success”) 2018!

Over the nearly 10 years since I started blogging here, I must have blogged about fall color and foliage a dozen times. Maybe More. Not surprisingly, it remains a favorite subject for me. For some who are fortunate enough to have great foliage photo-ops in their backyard, what I will say here may not apply. But for perhaps the vast majority of us, these opportunities often come only after travel to a more aesthetically accommodating venue.

I have traveled to New England (prominently: Vermont), the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, Virginia and New Mexico, in various years, to photograph fall color. Vermont has long been a love of mine, and I have made numerous trips there; enough to prompt me to take my first foray into “publishing” with the first edition of “Photographing Vermont’s Fall Foliage” in 2012.

As the previous blog notes, I am very happy to announce the 2nd Edition of this book, with updates and substantial additional locations (the first edition is no longer available, as the sellers required that it be removed from circulation in order to sell subsequent editions). The New Edition is currently available on Amazon, Apple, in the iBookstore, and Kobo.

Maple LeafStowe, VermontCopyright Andy Richards 2005

Many of the persons I communicate with at this time of the year are primarily leaf peepers with cameras. For those folks, go and enjoy! For serious photographers, I want to make a few observations, based on my own travel experience.

Preparation is Key

Mental preparation is the most important piece of this. Just because it is fall foliage season, doesn’t mean the rules for good photography change :-). It is important to be thoroughly familiar with the gear you will be using, as the “window” for a great image is often very short, and you may only have one chance to visit the location. In 2010, prior to my planned week-long trip to Vermont, I hit a milestone of sorts, in my own photography. I had always planned my locations and tried to find as much “intel” about a location as I could. But this time, I focused less on those details, and instead gave some contemplative thought to what I wanted to present visually, emotionally, and artistically. I think this contributed to one of my most successful trips.

Hiawatha NF Color SectionsMichigan U.P.Copyright 2012 Andy Richards

What you can take on a trip is also always a consideration. When I shoot near home, or somewhere I can drive to, the photographic gear I will take is generally only limited by what I own (and can afford). When flying, you really have to consider weight, and bulk. Most of us do not feel comfortable checking a bag with photo gear in it for a number of reasons. So what can you carry on, along with your other needs? One of the miracles of modern technology is the ability to make great images with a lighter, simpler gearset. For “casual” travel (I define that as any travel I do that is not specifically and solely dedicated to photography), I now carry a very small, packable carbon fiber tripod and the RXSony 100 iv (a point & shoot sized camera, with some professional credentials). Even when I go on a dedicated photo shoot, the camera, lenses and tripod are much small and lighter than in the past.

A better question might be “what lens will you use?”

Photographic gear is a subject that is often over-thought, in my opinion. Cameras, lenses, filters, and accessories are — for sure — tools that are necessary to the making of an image. And there is no doubt that higher quality tools can render a technically better result. If that is what you seek. I have already read, several times recently, the question: “what is the best lens for foliage photography?” I don’t think there is a “correct” answer to that question. A better question might be “what lens will you use?”

Tahquamenon FallsMichigan Upper PeninsulaCopyright 2004 Andy Richards

However, that there are other considerations that will have a more direct bearing on the successful image. Understanding light, and composition will have much more effect on imagery, in my view, than any other factor. This assumes, of course, that you already have a solid grounding on exposure principles, how to focus the camera, and considerations of aperture and depth of field. This relates directly back to the first point: preparation. If you do not come to your subject in the best light, it will be difficult to make a really great image. More often than not, this means early and late (or–think: during breakfast and supper :-)). Much of my more recent travel has centered around other activities, such as family time, tours, etc. While I do make images, it is often apparent that they were not take in the “best” light, and I frequently lament that it would be nice to be at a location either very early or in the late afternoon/early evening. If your trip is photography-focused, you will need to be mentally prepared to be on site at times that may be inconvenient to others you travel with. When I have made my fall foliage trips, the majority of them have either been alone, or with other, equally serious, photographers.

Santa Fe Ski BasinSanta Fe, NMCopyright 2008 Andy Richards

Don’t forget the “other” gear you may need. Most fall foliage locations have the potential for very warm weather, rain, and even freezing temperatures (especially at sunrise). Hat, gloves, sunscreen, and adaptable clothing is important.

Fall Color ReflectionCopyright 2012 Andy Richards

Most important of all, though is to have fun and enjoy the process as much as the result! Best to all of out out there and good shooting!

Last time, I wrote about color. Color attracts. It always grabs my attention. It pulls the eye. But as this image illustrates, it is about more than just color. This image is boring. Mundane. In fact, pretty awful to be displayed on a photographer’s blog. But I hope it illustrates my point. Color is a big part of my imagery. But there are other important ingredients. 🙂

RoseCopyright Andy Richards 2008

Color alone will not make an interesting or compelling image

As the opening image illustrates, color, alone, will not make an interesting (and most certainly not compelling image). Indeed it is so mundane that I didn’t copyright notice it or claim “artistic” credit. I am sure I am not the first to have created an image very like this one. So what’s missing?

Rocks, Lake Superior ShorelineCopyright Andy Richards 2004

There are a lot of things that will bring interest to an image. Line, horizon, animation (either illustrated, or in the case of many animal images, imagined). I want to talk about shape today.

Elliot FallsCopyright Andy Richards 2009

When I started to look through my archive for illustrations, I thought I was going to have a lot more illustrations that said “shape.” I also thought about writing about “line.” A topic to come. But I was surprised that I was able to find many examples of line, or line and shape. But fewer that shape alone provided the interest. Some good examples appeared in the last blog. The pottery in the shop in Istanbul was really all about color and shape. Likewise the fans in Japan.

Shiawassee River, Owosso, MICopyright Andy Richards 2009

The Rose image has plenty of color. Two primary colors in fact; red and green. A blob (or an uninteresting shape) of red and green would not be interesting. As a photographer, its presence would perhaps pull my eye. But upon closer inspection, it would not tickle my photographic fancy.

Nature presents us with unique and interesting shapes and textures. The Lake Superior rocks image is another example of nature’s unique presentation of shape, texture and color. This image might be interesting without all three of the elements. Maybe the shape and texture would still make a viable image. But the color attracted me, and the shape and texture of the image prompted me to make it. Likewise, shapes make the Elliot Falls image in my view. This Michigan U.P. waterfall is oft-photographed and it is difficult to find a unique perspective. But the scallops in the sandstone really make this image.

Street ShopsMadrid, NMCopyright Andy Richards 2008

I was looking for color the morning I took the Shiawassee River photo. The background was cluttered and not very picturesque. So I started looking for reflections. The shape of the log creates enough interest to the eye to make this image work. Sometimes you have to “help” nature just a bit. The Noyes Pond bubbles image is a favorite of mine. Without the bubbles, you have another “record” shot of fall foliage surrounding a pond. The familiar shape of the bubbles adds interest. I must confess that although I was involved in making the bubbles, my photograph was not the primary reason for them on this morning. This image was made in memory of a dear friend, and enthusiastic fellow Vermont shooter. But I think George would have loved this image. 🙂 .

Moulton BarnMormon Row, WYCopyright Andy Richards 2012

Man made shapes often lend themselves to “shape” composition. Architecture often lends itself to some dramatic images. I visited Chicago several time over the years and always loved to walk around downtown in the early morning hours. This well-known parking structure can be seen in the background of many images of downtown Chicago. Its unique shape and physical prominence makes it visible from a number of viewpoint around the city. Color once again drew my eye to the back street shops in Madrid, New Mexico. Pastel colors abound in much of New Mexico’s architecture. But again, without the juxtaposed rectangles throughout the image, it would be just a blob of color. I liked that this image is made up of essentially all rectangles and straight lines.

Shapes in a image can sometimes be serendipitous. Without the contrails in the Canadian Air Force image, we would just see a handful of red dots in an shapeless, monotone sky. The contrails make this image.

StarburstCopyright Andy Richards 2009

And, sometimes you just have to make your own shapes. The starburst image was taken at Christmas time of a lighted outdoor tree display in front of a large commercial building. It just wasn’t doing it for me, so I played. The image is shot at a slow shutter speed, on a tripod, while a zoomed the zoom lens. But in the end, my favorite shapes come from mother nature and her random, unique artistry. The Whitefish Falls image is but another nearly ubiquitous single drop waterfall in the Michigan U.P. There are many of them that all look essentially identical. To make a more unique image, I walked in close for my favorite “intimate” perspective. I like the result as much as any shape I have ever shot.

It seemed like 16 images were too many for a single blog post (really, 8 is probably too many, and my blogs tend to be longer than a blog should be 🙂 ). So I split my sunrise images into 2 installments.

Bean Pond Barton, VT Copyright Andy Richards 2010

In 2010, I again visited Vermont for a fall color photography excursion. My good friend, fellow photographer, fellow blogger, and co-author of the 2nd Edition of Photographing Vermont’s Fall Foliage, Carol, acted as my host and guide for the first couple days. One magical place she took me too was Bean Pond, a small, unremarkable roadside pond near here home in Barton in the “Northeast Kingdom” of Vermont. Unremarkable, that is, unless you are a photographer looking for fall foliage venues. Since my first trip there, I have been back to the pond several times (and I am certain Carol has been there almost daily when she is in Vermont in season). Our morning broke very cold, with frost on the ground, after a prolonged spell of heavy rain. We knew the conditions were ripe for fog and steam rising off the pond and she had us there by twilight. The resulting images (only one here) made the cold, early morning well worth it.

Bay BridgeSan Francisco, CACopyright Andy Richards 2011

In 2011, we visited San Francisco, to visit our daughter. She lives in downtown, which put me in the middle of one of the best photography venues I have ever visited. Once again, the 3 hour time change worked in favor of early rising, and a 15 minute walk brought me to the Embarcadero, at the eastern boundary of the city, and one of San Francisco’s seaports with a closeup view of one of the two major bridges leading into San Francisco, the San Francisco Bay Bridge. There are San Francisco Bay shooting opportunities all along the Embarcadero. We returned again in 2014, and I couldn’t resist a couple more early morning walking trips to the Embarcadero.

Mocassin Lake Hiawatha NF Munising, MI Copyright Andy Richards 2010

I have been traveling to the Michigan Upper Peninsula (U.P.) for many years for fall color photography. As many readers here know, I think highly enough of the photographic potential that I have co-written an eBook on Photographing the Michigan U.P., with my good friend and fellow photographer and blogger, Kerry Leibowitz. I have photographed Mocassin Lake many times and never cease to find it photogenic. My writings on the U.P. and some of my imagery captured the attention of a professional photographer and teacher in Pennsylvania, James Moore. Inn 2012, he decided to host one of his workshops in the U.P. He asked me to be his guide. These images were all made during the 2012 trip. I appreciate his inspiration and I think that week was the most rewarding of all of my trips to the U.P. I was there from the beginning to the peak of color, perhaps the only time in my shooting career.

Pete’s LakeHiawatha NF, Munising, MICopyright Andy Richards 2012

Pete’s LakeHiawatha NF, Munising, MICopyright Andy Richards 2012

In 2013 we went on two more cruises. In January, we joined a group affiliated with the O’Brien Estate Winery in Napa, Ca, on a Caribbean Cruise. We didn’t know a soul when we boarded. We were fortunate to have some very friendly table mates and we ended up not only spending most of our time on board with them and another couple, but we have made lifelong friends. We have traveled to Napa together, and they have recently visited us in our Florida home. It was a great cruise. As we arrived home in the early morning hours, I was able to capture this sunrise image of the Miami Skyline.

Miami, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2013

Later, in September, we took what was my first trip out of the U.S. (Canada doesn’t count 🙂 ); a Mediterranean Cruise. We started with a few days in Venice. My only sunrise shot during that trip was the famous gondolas in St. Mark’s Square, which took some doing. We were staying on the mainland, so I had to take the early train to Venice and then find my way through the maze to the square before the sunrise. I had practiced a couple times.

GondolasSan Marco PiazzaVenice, ItalyCopyright Andy Richards 2013

I grew up in the Northern Michigan town of Traverse City. It is a resort town, and by all reports, beautiful in all seasons. The city sits at the base of a peninsula of land (Old Mission Peninsula) which creates two deep bays (East Bay and West Bay) into Lake Michigan. It has unique, sandy coastline and a climate similar to that of Northern California (except that winters up there are brutal and snowy). I moved away from there shortly after I graduated from High School in 1975. But I still have family there, and only live about 2 3/4 hours away. It occurred to me at some point that I had spent little time photographing up there, and so, in 2014, with no major fall foliage outings planned, took a long-weekend trip up there. I was on the high point of the peninsula, where it is possible to see both bays, at sunrise. This sunrise image faces (perhaps obviously) East Bay.

When I — “tongue in cheek” — noted that I didn’t want to offend Hemingway and be guilty of the very thing I occasionally rant against, copyright infringement, an astute friend pointed out that it wasn’t Hemingway’s at all, but actually comes from the bible. I am reasonably certain we are beyond the copyright expiration date for the particular author. So there you go. 🙂

Sunrises reveal themselves in a number of varied conditions

Perhaps more meaningfully, my left turn into the topic of “sunrise” vs “sunset,” caused me to wonder just how many times I had ventured into the early morning, pre-dawn darkness, to try to capture the sunrise. So I went back through my archives. I was surprised (though I should not have been) to find that my sunrise images were far fewer than my sunset images. I found about sixteen of them, most of which I had never given any serious post-processing. I will use the next two posts to showcase some of them. I will not say they are in every instance, my best work (in fact a couple were taken with lower-quality digital cameras in low light conditions — in a time when sensors were simply not as good as they are today). The St. Thomas shot was made as the sun broke the horizon in the pre-dawn light, with a Canon G12 (which had a smaller and less capable sensor than my Sony RX100iv). My Sony body is half its physical size.

St. Thomas, USVI Copyright Andy Richards 2012

I believe the images here illustrate some of what I said in the prior post. Sunrises reveal themselves in a number of varied conditions. Sunsets can often be colorful. Sunrises are generally more subtle, but as the Otter Beach shot shows, there are occasionally glorious exceptions. Cooler temperatures create fog and mist. Cold temperatures create a cool look to the image colors.

Saginaw County SunriseCopyright Andy Richards 2006

The earliest recorded attempt I made at sunrise shooting was on a freezing cold morning in February, not far from my home in Saginaw, Michigan. Saginaw is part of the so-called, I-75 industrial corridor, formerly known for its General Motors auto manufacturing plants. But it may not be a well-known that it is also one of the largest agricultural areas in the mid-west. As soon as you leave the city in almost any direction, there are farms and farmland. This image was taken with my Nikon 35mm SLR camera and color transparency film. Slow ISO speeds of such film dictated the use of a sturdy tripod and cable release. The image here was scanned with an Epson scanner and is not the quality equivalent of the drum scanners that were used back then to digitize media in high resolution. Even so, I am impressed with what modern “home-brew” digital technology can accomplish.

Horseshoe LakeHuron NF, Glennie, MICopyright Andy Richards 2008

When my son was younger (me too 🙂 ), we used to do an annual late summer camping trip. One of our favorite spots was a small National Forest Campground called Horseshoe Lake, in Lower Michigan. One of my early “successful” attempts at sunrise photography was, perhaps, unplanned. I have never been a fan of camping and especially, of sleeping on the cold, damp, lumpy ground. So it was not surprising that I woke early in the pre-dawn. I restarted our campfire and boiled a pot of water for coffee. My son (like any pre-teenager) was sound asleep and apparently unfazed by the lumpy ground. So I carried camera and tripod a few hundred feet down to the water’s edge and began looking for compositions. I made a few images that morning, but the resulting shot was a bit of a surprise. The image was shot on Fuji Velvia color transparency film. A characteristic of this film with certain light conditions is to render blue. While this was not my “vision” while making the image, I liked it well enough to keep it. And it has been sold a number of times. Who knew?

In 2009, my best friend, Rich, and our spouses made a week-long trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, and Acadia National Park. We always have fun when the 4 of us travel. But Rich and I are pretty unrelenting on our commitment to be out early. This trip was no exception, and we picked our way down a little known path (we had found during prior daylight) to a rocky portion of Otter Beach, where both the image above, and the opening image were taken, several mornings, waiting for the elusive sunrise I think it was worth the wait when this one finally came.

In 2010, we to our first cruise. I was lukewarm about the whole cruise idea. In my mind, cruises were about partying shipboard, buffets, and sun and fun in the Caribbean (which, it turns out, isn’t such a bad gig after all). My wife wanted to do a cruise, so I agreed–as long as I got to pick it. And I chose the Alaska Inside Passage cruise. It turned out to be a great trip and we learned that cruising is a pretty comfortable way to see new places.

Inside Passage, AKCopyright Andy Richards 2010

Another plus to going west is the time change. Already a relatively early riser, the 3 and eventually 4 hour time difference had my wide-eyed before first light nearly every morning, as we cruised the inside passage. The sun was pure gold the morning we approached the port of Juneau. A day later, approaching Skagway, the rising sun lit the sky with multiple colors.

Whittier, AKCopyright Andy Richards 2010

On the final morning of our cruise, I walked the rear deck of our ship, the Diamond Princess, and watched a dramatic sunrise under cloudy skies. I was a convert to cruising, and we would cruise 3 more times between 2010 and 2013.

I have a travel “bucket list,” (of sorts). One of the places on that bucket list has been the Florida Keys, and particularly, Key West. In January, we traveled to Key West for a long weekend. As can happen, it turned out to be a bit of an adventure.

Sunrise; Ft. Myers Beach, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

From Fort Myers Beach, you can take a Ferry (The Key West Express) which will land you in Key West in about 4 hours. I have always thought of Key West as being south of Miami. It is more accurate to say it is southwest of Miami, and it is really further west than south (sounds like the beginning of a Jimmy Buffet song). And it is actually straight south from Ft. Myers Beach, so the ferry ride is a pretty straight shot right down the gulf. From Ft. Myer’s the drive is substantially longer and were were interested in getting there and back as quickly as possible. Personally, I don’t mind driving — especially when it is to new places. But my traveling companions; well, not so much. “Be careful what you wish for,” it turns out, applied here. More on that later.

Fort Myers BeachFort Myers FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

The Ferry pulled away from the dock early in the morning, and we were aboard to see the sun rise over Ft. Myers Beach. As we left the harbor, we were able to see some of the popular “beach” hangouts from the deck of the ship in early morning light.

Fort Myers BeachFort Myers, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

As promised, just under 4 hours later, we landed at the Key West Harbor terminal, where the main boating activity, including cruise ships, fishing boats, ferries and pleasure craft, occurs. A short jaunt from the ferry terminal, Key West’s main tourist attraction, Duval Street, begins just southeast of Mallory Square, on the harbor. While the island itself is oriented primarily west to east, most of the streets run diagonal from either the Northwest to Southeast, or North East to Southwest.

Sloppy Joe’s BarKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

As soon as you set foot onto Duval Street, you are confronted with bars and restaurants and shops. While there are a number of “tourist” and “family” activities available, the main event (for adults anyway — in it definitely is an “adult” kind of place) seems to be the bar/restaurant scene. We visited several bars while there, including the famous Sloppy Joe’s. We were interested to see the substantial influence from the military — particularly the Navy. Since my father-in-law was a career Naval Officer, we enjoyed seeing some of the paraphernalia left by military personnel over the years.

Sloppy Joe’s BarKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

It was also fun to visit a restaurant and learn a bit about Key West history. Blue Heaven was such a place with a singular history of cockfighting (100 years ago), gambling, and Friday night boxing matches purported refereed by Hemingway himself.

Blue HeavenKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Notwithstanding its “quirky nature, one of the draws it its very unique, partially covered, outdoor area. In Key West, it is a restaurant/bar of some repute, with live music and good food.

Blue HeavenKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Our B&B was at the southeastern end of Duval Street, near the furthest south beach in the U.S. Not surprisingly, there is also a resort next door, aptly named, “The Southernmost Beach Resort.” After our arrival in Key West, we first took our luggage to the B&B and found a restaurant (equally aptly named), in the resort: The Southernmost Beach Cafe.

Southernmost Beach ResortKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Southernmost Beach ResortKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

A stroll down the approximately 1 mile long Duval Street from the B&B back to Mallory Square, gave us a bit of the “lay of the land” and a precursor of the chaotic night life that Duval Street is known for. Among other famous figures, Key West was a favorite haunt of Hemingway and of President Truman (both of whom had substantial homes on this island). But for me the personal favorite “famous” person is Jimmy Buffet. :-). So I couldn’t walk by the original Margaritaville without stopping (and I couldn’t walk out with out buying a T-shirt) :-).

The Original “Margaritaville”Key West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

I recently noted here that the Florida Gulf is known for its sunsets. Key West is certainly no exception. We sat at an outdoor bar listening to a local live band in Mallory Square at the end of our first day and watched the sun set as “our” Key West Express departed with its passengers for Fort Myers Beach. We thought we would be on that same boat 2 days hence.

Sunset, Key West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

I neglected to say, the occasion of our visit to Key West was a birthday present from my wife. For the actual birthday, she found, and booked a restaurant on the water, called Louie’s Backyard. For anyone visiting Key West and looking for a nicer restaurant with wonderful food in a great venue, I highly recommend Louie’s Backyard. As we sipped a Martini and watched the sunset, I captured this image with my wife’s smartphone, of an adjacent pier which must have been yet another bar or restaurant. Not too shabby a birthday night. Certainly one to remember.

Sunset from Louie’s BackyardKey West, FLCopyright Andy Richards 2017

Also, all good things must come to an end. Sometimes abruptly. I had carried a cigar around in my shirt pocket for two days, waiting for the right opportunity to enjoy it. It turned out to be after we returned from the restaurant and up on the 2nd floor balcony of our B&B. And as I sat there enjoying the night time activity and pleasant weather, and wondering what we would do the next day, my wife received a text from Key West Express. Due to predicted, near-40mph wind gusts and thunderstorms over the gulf, they would not be there to pick us up at our appointed time at 5:00 p.m. the following day. I am fond of saying that if things don’t work out as planned, it is always important to have a “plan B.” When asked what “plan B” is, I usually say that the reason it is “plan B” is because I have no idea what it is. :-). It is another way of saying sometimes you just need to roll with the punches. We (actually my wife and brother in law, as I sat back and watched them in action) rented a car on line and the next morning we left the B&B at 8:00 and picked up a rental car at the Key West airport. So, I did get my chance to drive through the keys! It was a very long day, but an enjoyable weekend.